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Do you want an eternal life? Do you aspire to live forever? This is not an easy question to answer. One must think a lot before giving the answer.
This story is attributed to Alexander the Great. Like all highly ambitious persons, Alexander, the emperor, was seeking Eternal Life. He was directed to a reknowned Indian Sage. The sage told him about a magical tree which grew on the shores of a lake, far away, hidden deep inside the forests, which could be reached only after crossing several mountain ranges. Eating the fruit of that tree gave eternal life. Alexander set off, taking the directions from the sage. After travelling for seven days and seven nights, he reached that lake and found the magical tree with the fruits. As he was about to eat one, a voice called him and cautioned him “Do not eat the fruit”. Alexander was amazed to find that it was a crocodile and that the lake was teeming with crocodiles. “We have eaten the fruit and are miserable. How much so ever we may wish, we cannot die. We have become old, disabled, have nothing to live for and yet we cannot die. Do not make the same mistake we had made. Otherwise you will have an eternally miserable life, cursing this day when you ate this fruit”. Alexander realized the wisdom of the words of the crocodile. He no longer wanted eternal life. His quest was over. He returned back without eating the fruit.
The question we have to ask ourselves is ‘Do we want eternal life?’ or we would be happier with a few good years?
Let us imagine the life of a caged bird, alone in the cage. The cage may be made of gold and he would be getting the best of food and care from the lady who lovingly kept him as a pet. He would not be wanting anything; anything except freedom to fly in the open sky and meet and mingle with the other birds of his tribe. Would the bird prefer a hundred years of such caged life, or would he rather be satisfied with just a few years of life in the open, flying soaring high up above in the sky. No question. The bird would surely love to be out of the cage, and flying high. No matter the life in the open world would carry with it its own perils. He would have to face hunger, illness, brave all kinds of weather and even run the risk of falling prey to predator birds. But it would be better than a purposeless eternal life.
All this leads us to the conclusion that endless life is not a boon, but a curse; a life which is totally protected, cut off from all risks and also human contacts is worthless. Further, to lead a good life, one requires challenges to meet and goals to achieve. One requires someone to share both, happiness and sorrow. As they say “a ship is safe in the harbour, but that is not what it is meant for”. The captain of a ship would be far happier sailing the seven seas, fighting wild winds, weathering thunderous storms and facing turbulent waves than merely sitting in the harbour. So it is with our lives. What one really seeks is not just a long life, but a good and a meaningful life, even if it be short. I am reminded of the words of Philip James Bailey:
“We live in deeds, not years
In thought, not breath
We should count time by heart throbs
He most lives, who thinks most
Feels the noblest, acts the best”
But still one may aspire to live eternally, though not in a physical form. It is well said that “to live in the Hearts of Men, is not to Die”. One would certainly aspire to live in the hearts of men for a long time by one’s noble deeds.
We then have to decide, that whatever may be our remaining life span, we will live a purposeful, meaningful life, we shall strive to achieve great goals and make the best use of our lives. We will leave our footprints on the sands of time. Maybe then, even when we die a physical death, we shall continue to live in the hearts of our fellow human beings and have a truly eternal life. We can then attain the state described in the bhajan of Jain Muni Shri Anandghanji:
